Optical alignment for head-mountable device

ABSTRACT

Head-mountable devices can include adjustment mechanisms to achieve optimal alignment of optical components during and/or after assembly thereof within the head-mountable device. The alignment mechanisms can be integrated into the head-mountable device itself. A light projecting display element can be adjustable based on movement of ramp members within the head-mountable device (e.g., within an arm) to adjust an orientation of the light projecting display element relative to the waveguide onto which it projects light. Alignment can be verified based on the optical output of the display element. The adjustment mechanisms can adjust the display element during initial assembly and/or be operated by actuators that actively adjust the alignment as needed over time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/877,247, entitled “OPTICAL ALIGNMENT FOR HEAD-MOUNTABLE DEVICE,”filed Jul. 22, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present description relates generally to head-mountable devices,and, more particularly, to an alignment mechanism for an opticalassembly of head-mountable devices, such as eyeglasses.

BACKGROUND

A head-mountable device can be worn by a user to display visualinformation within the field of view of the user. The head-mountabledevice can be used as a virtual reality (VR) system, an augmentedreality (AR) system, and/or a mixed reality (MR) system. A user mayobserve outputs provided by the head-mountable device, such as visualinformation provided on a display. The display can optionally allow auser to observe an environment outside of the head-mountable device.Other outputs provided by the head-mountable device can include audiooutput and/or haptic feedback. A user may further interact with thehead-mountable device by providing inputs for processing by one or morecomponents of the head-mountable device. For example, the user canprovide tactile inputs, voice commands, and other inputs while thedevice is mounted to the user's head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain features of the subject technology are set forth in the appendedclaims. However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments of thesubject technology are set forth in the following figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a head-mountable device,according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a head-mountable device, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of a portion of the head-mountabledevice of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an optical assemblyof a head-mountable device, according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the optical assembly of FIG. 4,according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates another top view of the optical assembly of FIG. 4,according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an optical assemblyof a head-mountable device, according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofvarious configurations of the subject technology and is not intended torepresent the only configurations in which the subject technology may bepracticed. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitutea part of the detailed description. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof the subject technology. However, it will be clear and apparent tothose skilled in the art that the subject technology is not limited tothe specific details set forth herein and may be practiced without thesespecific details. In some instances, well-known structures andcomponents are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuringthe concepts of the subject technology.

Head-mountable devices, such as smart eyeglasses, head-mountabledisplays, headsets, visors, head-up display, and the like can perform arange of functions that is determined by the components (e.g., sensors,circuitry, and other hardware) included with the wearable device asmanufactured. It can be desirable to provide the components of thehead-mountable device in an alignment that provides the desired opticalproperties, including properly aligned output of visual features from adisplay element.

Proper operation of display components of a head-mountable device can bebased on proper alignment. For example, where a light projection displayelement is configured to project light onto a waveguide, the relativealignment of the display element and the waveguide are preferablyachieved for optimal performance. Misalignment of the components cancause visual features output by the display element to be projected onthe waveguide at locations other than the desired locations. While suchmisalignment can be accommodated by shifting the output of the displayelement (e.g., by shifting visual features based on a known offset),such measures may require that certain output regions of the displayelement be sacrificed. Accordingly, the entire display capabilities ofthe display element may not be utilized.

During assembly of a head-mountable device, the display element can bearranged with respect to the waveguide to achieve optimal alignment.Individual components can each have different manufacturing tolerancesthat yield a range of different alignment possibilities. Given such arange of possible misalignments, it can be desirable to have an abilityto align the components relative to each other during and/or afterassembly within the head-mountable device.

Head-mountable devices of the present disclosure can provide adjustmentmechanisms to achieve optimal alignment of optical components duringand/or after assembly thereof within the head-mountable device. Thealignment mechanisms can be integrated into the head-mountable deviceitself. A light projecting display element can be adjustable based onmovement of ramp members within the head-mountable device (e.g., withinan arm) to adjust an orientation of the light projecting display elementrelative to the waveguide onto which it projects light. Alignment can beverified based on the optical output of the display element. Theadjustment mechanisms can adjust the display element during initialassembly and/or be operated by actuators that actively adjust thealignment as needed over time.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1-7. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thedetailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is forexplanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

According to some embodiments, for example as shown in FIG. 1, ahead-mountable device 10 includes a frame 20 that is worn on a head withone or more arms 40. The frame 20 can be positioned in front of the eyesof a user to provide information within a field of view of the user. Theframe 20 can provide nose pads 34 or another feature to rest on a user'snose. The frame 20 further includes one or more optical modules 50 and abridge 32 above the nose pads 34 and connecting multiple optical modules50.

The frame 20 and/or the arms 40 can serve to surround a peripheralregion of the head-mountable device 10 as well as support any internalcomponents in their assembled position. For example, the frame 20 and/orthe arms 40 can enclose and support various internal components(including for example integrated circuit chips, processors, sensors,input/output devices, memory devices, and other circuitry) to providecomputing and functional operations for the head-mountable device 10, asdiscussed further herein.

An optical module 50 can transmit light from a physical environment forviewing by the user. Such an optical module 50 can include opticalproperties, such lenses for vision correction based on incoming lightfrom the physical environment. Additionally or alternatively, an opticalmodule 50 can provide information as a display within a field of view ofthe user. Such information can be displayed based on operation of adisplay element 80 that projects light onto and/or communicates with oneor more elements of the optical module 50. As shown in FIG. 1, thedisplay element 80 can reside, at least partially, in one or more of thearms 40 and/or in the frame 20. For example, the display element 80 canreside, at least partially, within a cavity 42 extending from the frame20 and into the arm 40. Displayed information can be provided to theexclusion of a view of a physical environment or in addition to (e.g.,overlaid with) a physical environment.

A physical environment refers to a physical world that people can senseand/or interact with without aid of electronic systems. Physicalenvironments, such as a physical park, include physical articles, suchas physical trees, physical buildings, and physical people. People candirectly sense and/or interact with the physical environment, such asthrough sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell.

In contrast, a computer-generated reality (CGR) environment refers to awholly or partially simulated environment that people sense and/orinteract with via an electronic system. In CGR, a subset of a person'sphysical motions, or representations thereof, are tracked, and, inresponse, one or more characteristics of one or more virtual objectssimulated in the CGR environment are adjusted in a manner that comportswith at least one law of physics. For example, a CGR system may detect aperson's head turning and, in response, adjust graphical content and anacoustic field presented to the person in a manner similar to how suchviews and sounds would change in a physical environment. In somesituations, (e.g., for accessibility reasons), adjustments tocharacteristic(s) of virtual object(s) in a CGR environment may be madein response to representations of physical motions (e.g., vocalcommands).

A person may sense and/or interact with a CGR object using any one oftheir senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Forexample, a person may sense and/or interact with audio objects thatcreate 3D or spatial audio environment that provides the perception ofpoint audio sources in 3D space. In another example, audio objects mayenable audio transparency, which selectively incorporates ambient soundsfrom the physical environment with or without computer-generated audio.In some CGR environments, a person may sense and/or interact only withaudio objects.

Examples of CGR include virtual reality and mixed reality.

A virtual reality (VR) environment refers to a simulated environmentthat is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensoryinputs for one or more senses. A VR environment comprises a plurality ofvirtual objects with which a person may sense and/or interact. Forexample, computer-generated imagery of trees, buildings, and avatarsrepresenting people are examples of virtual objects. A person may senseand/or interact with virtual objects in the VR environment through asimulation of the person's presence within the computer-generatedenvironment, and/or through a simulation of a subset of the person'sphysical movements within the computer-generated environment.

In contrast to a VR environment, which is designed to be based entirelyon computer-generated sensory inputs, a mixed reality (MR) environmentrefers to a simulated environment that is designed to incorporatesensory inputs from the physical environment, or a representationthereof, in addition to including computer-generated sensory inputs(e.g., virtual objects). On a virtuality continuum, a mixed realityenvironment is anywhere between, but not including, a wholly physicalenvironment at one end and virtual reality environment at the other end.

In some MR environments, computer-generated sensory inputs may respondto changes in sensory inputs from the physical environment. Also, someelectronic systems for presenting an MR environment may track locationand/or orientation with respect to the physical environment to enablevirtual objects to interact with real objects (that is, physicalarticles from the physical environment or representations thereof). Forexample, a system may account for movements so that a virtual treeappears stationery with respect to the physical ground.

Examples of mixed realities include augmented reality and augmentedvirtuality.

An augmented reality (AR) environment refers to a simulated environmentin which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over a physicalenvironment, or a representation thereof. For example, an electronicsystem for presenting an AR environment may have a transparent ortranslucent display through which a person may directly view thephysical environment. The system may be configured to present virtualobjects on the transparent or translucent display, so that a person,using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over thephysical environment. Alternatively, a system may have an opaque displayand one or more imaging sensors that capture images or video of thephysical environment, which are representations of the physicalenvironment. The system composites the images or video with virtualobjects, and presents the composition on the opaque display. A person,using the system, indirectly views the physical environment by way ofthe images or video of the physical environment, and perceives thevirtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. As usedherein, a video of the physical environment shown on an opaque displayis called “pass-through video,” meaning a system uses one or more imagesensor(s) to capture images of the physical environment, and uses thoseimages in presenting the AR environment on the opaque display. Furtheralternatively, a system may have a projection system that projectsvirtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as ahologram or on a physical surface, so that a person, using the system,perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physicalenvironment.

An augmented reality environment also refers to a simulated environmentin which a representation of a physical environment is transformed bycomputer-generated sensory information. For example, in providingpass-through video, a system may transform one or more sensor images toimpose a select perspective (e.g., viewpoint) different than theperspective captured by the imaging sensors. As another example, arepresentation of a physical environment may be transformed bygraphically modifying (e.g., enlarging) portions thereof, such that themodified portion may be representative but not photorealistic versionsof the originally captured images. As a further example, arepresentation of a physical environment may be transformed bygraphically eliminating or obfuscating portions thereof.

An augmented virtuality (AV) environment refers to a simulatedenvironment in which a virtual or computer generated environmentincorporates one or more sensory inputs from the physical environment.The sensory inputs may be representations of one or more characteristicsof the physical environment. For example, an AV park may have virtualtrees and virtual buildings, but people with faces photorealisticallyreproduced from images taken of physical people. As another example, avirtual object may adopt a shape or color of a physical article imagedby one or more imaging sensors. As a further example, a virtual objectmay adopt shadows consistent with the position of the sun in thephysical environment.

There are many different types of electronic systems that enable aperson to sense and/or interact with various CGR environments. Examplesinclude head-mountable systems, projection-based systems, heads-updisplays (HUDs), vehicle windshields having integrated displaycapability, windows having integrated display capability, displaysformed as lenses designed to be placed on a person's eyes (e.g., similarto contact lenses), headphones/earphones, speaker arrays, input systems(e.g., wearable or handheld controllers with or without hapticfeedback), smartphones, tablets, and desktop/laptop computers. Ahead-mountable system may have one or more speaker(s) and an integratedopaque display. Alternatively, a head-mountable system may be configuredto accept an external opaque display (e.g., a smartphone). Thehead-mountable system may incorporate one or more imaging sensors tocapture images or video of the physical environment, and/or one or moremicrophones to capture audio of the physical environment. Rather than anopaque display, a head-mountable system may have a transparent ortranslucent display. The transparent or translucent display may have amedium through which light representative of images is directed to aperson's eyes. The display may utilize digital light projection, OLEDs,LEDs, uLEDs, liquid crystal on silicon, laser scanning light source, orany combination of these technologies. The medium may be an opticalwaveguide, a hologram medium, an optical combiner, an optical reflector,or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the transparent ortranslucent display may be configured to become opaque selectively.Projection-based systems may employ retinal projection technology thatprojects graphical images onto a person's retina. Projection systemsalso may be configured to project virtual objects into the physicalenvironment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a frame 20 can be supported on a user's headwith the arms 40. The arms 40 can wrap or extend along opposing sides ofa user's head, as with temple components 36. The arms 40 can furtherinclude earpieces 38 for wrapping around or otherwise engaging a user'sears. It will be appreciated that other configurations can be appliedfor securing the head-mountable device 10 to a user's head. For example,one or more bands, straps, belts, caps, hats, or other components can beused in addition to or in place of the illustrated components of thehead-mountable device 10. By further example, an arm can extend about auser's head to both sides of the frame 20.

The frame 20 can be coupled to or integral (e.g., monolithic) with oneor more of the arms 40, including the temple components 36 and/or theearpieces 38. For example, a continuous support structure including theframe 20 can support the optical modules 50 as well as the displayelements 80. While at least a portion of the arms 40 can optionally move(e.g., the earpieces 38 pivot about a hinge 44 and relative to thetemple components 36) with respect to the frame 20, it will beunderstood that, in at least some embodiments, the frame 20 and/or thearms 40 can form a continuous structure that supports both the opticalmodules 50 as well as the display elements 80 to facilitate relativealignment of the optical modules 50 and their corresponding displayelement 80. As such, the arms 40 can refer to at least a portion of thesupport structure (e.g., temple components 36) that extends away fromthe portion of the frame 20 and that supports the optical modules 50.

In some embodiments, each of the optical modules 50 can include thedisplay element 80 (e.g., a light projector) and a waveguide. Thedisplay element 80 can include any and all components for projectinglight in the desired manner. For example, the display element 80 caninclude light sources, such as an RGB module, polarizers, beamsplitters, collimators, lenses, and the like. The optical modules 50 caninclude a waveguide that allows internal reflections of received light,as well as one or more other optical components, such as correctivelenses.

The optical module 50 can include a target element 58 for calibratingthe display element 80. For example, the display element 80 can projectlight onto the target element 58. Based on a known output of the displayelement 80, the alignment of the display element 80 relative to theoptical module 50 (e.g., waveguide) can be detected based on theappearance of the light with respect to the target element 58.Appropriate adjustments can be performed as discussed further herein.The target element 58 can be a pattern or other visual feature on anycomponent of the optical module 50, including the waveguide.

Referring now to FIG. 2, components of the head-mountable device can beprovided and operatively connected to achieve the performance describedherein. FIG. 2 shows a simplified block diagram of a head-mountabledevice 10 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.It will be appreciated that components described herein can be providedon either or both of a frame and/or one or more arms of thehead-mountable device 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the head-mountable device 10 can include a processor92 with one or more processing units that include or are configured toaccess a memory having instructions stored thereon. The instructions orcomputer programs may be configured to perform one or more of theoperations or functions described with respect to the head-mountabledevice 10. The processor 92 can be implemented as any electronic devicecapable of processing, receiving, or transmitting data or instructions.For example, the processor 92 may include one or more of: amicroprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), orcombinations of such devices. As described herein, the term “processor”is meant to encompass a single processor or processing unit, multipleprocessors, multiple processing units, or other suitably configuredcomputing element or elements.

The head-mountable device 10 can further include a display element 80for displaying visual information for a user. The display element 80 canprovide visual (e.g., image or video) output. The display element 80 canbe or include an opaque, transparent, and/or translucent display. Thedisplay element 80 may have a transparent or translucent medium throughwhich light representative of images is directed to a user's eyes. Thedisplay element 80 may utilize digital light projection, OLEDs, LEDs,uLEDs, liquid crystal on silicon, laser scanning light source, or anycombination of these technologies. The medium may be an opticalwaveguide, a hologram medium, an optical combiner, an optical reflector,or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the transparent ortranslucent display may be configured to become opaque selectively.Projection-based systems may employ retinal projection technology thatprojects graphical images onto a person's retina. Projection systemsalso may be configured to project virtual objects into the physicalenvironment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface. Thehead-mountable device 10 can include an optical subassembly configuredto help optically adjust and correctly project the image-based contentbeing displayed by the display element 80 for close up viewing. Theoptical subassembly can include one or more lenses, mirrors, or otheroptical devices, as discussed further herein.

The head-mountable device 10 can include one or more sensors 94. Thesensor 94 can be or include a camera for capturing a view of anenvironment external to the head-mountable device 10. The camera caninclude an optical sensor, such as a photodiode or a photodiode array, acharge-coupled device (CCD) and/or a complementarymetal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device, a photovoltaic cell, a photoresistive component, a laser scanner, and the like. The camera may beconfigured to capture an image of a scene or subject located within afield of view of the camera.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensor 94 can be a camera or anothersensor configured to detect a projection of light from the displayelement 80 with respect to a target element of an optical module. Asdiscussed herein, the display element 80 can project light onto awaveguide or another component, and a portion of the light can beprojected onto the target element. The sensor 94 can optically orotherwise detect the location of the project light with respect to thetarget element to facilitate calibration and adjustment of the displayelement 80 with respect to the waveguide.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensor 94 can be or include one ormore environment sensors that are directed to an external environment.Such environment sensors can include any sensor that detects one or moreconditions in an environment of the head-mountable device 10. Forexample, an environment sensor 160 can include an imaging device, athermal sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor,a chemical sensor, a light sensor, a magnetometer, a gyroscope, anaccelerometer, a global positioning sensor, a tilt sensor, and/or a UVsensor. An environment sensor can be configured to sense substantiallyany type of characteristic such as, but not limited to, images,pressure, light, touch, force, temperature, position, motion, and so on.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensor 94 can be or include one ormore user sensors for tracking features of the user wearing thehead-mountable device 10. For example, a user sensor can perform facialfeature detection, facial movement detection, facial recognition, eyetracking, user mood detection, user emotion detection, voice detection,etc. Such eye tracking may be used to determine a location ofinformation to be displayed by the display element 80 and/or a portion(e.g., object) of a view to be analyzed by the head-mountable device 10.By further example, the user sensor can be a bio-sensor for trackingbiometric characteristics, such as health and activity metrics.

The head-mountable device 10 can include one or more actuators 98. Theactuators 98 can be connected to adjustment elements and/or othercomponents of the head-mountable device 10 to move such components asdesired. The actuators 98 can be operated based on commands from theprocessor 92 and/or based on detections by the sensor 94, as discussedfurther herein. The actuators 98 can include or be connected to motors,hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators, magnetic actuators,piezoelectric actuators, electroactive materials, stepper motors,shape-memory alloys, and the like, as well as drivetrain components suchas gears, clutches, and/or transmissions, to facilitate independent orsimultaneous movement of adjustment elements based on operation ofcorresponding actuators 98.

The head-mountable device 10 can include a communication element 96 forcommunicating with one or more servers or other devices using anysuitable communications protocol. For example, the communication element96 can support Wi-Fi (e.g., a 802.11 protocol), Ethernet, Bluetooth,high frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.6 GHzcommunication systems), infrared, TCP/IP (e.g., any of the protocolsused in each of the TCP/IP layers), HTTP, BitTorrent, FTP, RTP, RTSP,SSH, any other communications protocol, or any combination thereof. Thecommunication element 96 can also include an antenna for transmittingand receiving electromagnetic signals.

The head-mountable device 10 can include one or more other componentsfor supporting operations thereof. For example, the head-mountabledevice 10 can include a battery (not shown), which can charge and/orpower components of the head-mountable device 10. The battery can alsocharge and/or power components connected to the head-mountable device10. By further example, the head-mountable device 10 can include aninput/output component (not shown), which can include any suitablecomponent for allowing a user to provide input and/or receive output.The input/output component can include, for example, one or morebuttons, crowns, keys, dials, trackpads, microphones, speakers, hapticdevices, and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a head-mountable device can include an opticalmodule that provides a view to an external environment and receiveslight from a display element for presentation to a user.

As shown in FIG. 3, an optical module 50 can include a waveguide 54between an inner lens 56 and an outer lens 52. The inner lens 56 can bepositioned on a user side of the optical module 50 (e.g., facing towardthe user when the head-mountable device is worn), and the outer lens 52can be positioned on a world side of the optical module 50 (e.g., facingaway from the user when the head-mountable device is worn). Thewaveguide 54 can receive light 88 from the display element 80, asdiscussed further herein. The inner lens 56 can provide a window 64 orother structure for transmitting light from the display element 80,through the inner lens 56, and to the waveguide 54.

The waveguide 54 can be provided with one or more features fortransmitting light from the display element 80 to the user. For example,the waveguide 54 can include reflective surfaces. When the light 88 fromthe display element 80 enters the waveguide 54, it can strike a firstsurface with an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle abovewhich total internal reflection occurs. The light 88 may engage in totalinternal reflection and bounce between opposing surfaces until itreaches a viewing area. At the viewing area, the light 88 can exit thewaveguide 54 (e.g., at an angle less than the critical angle). While thewaveguide 54 of FIG. 4 is shown as generally rectilinear, it will beunderstood that a variety of shapes and sizes can be provided to achievethe results discussed herein.

The inner lens 56 can apply optical effects to light transmitted fromthe waveguide 54 and to the user. For example, the inner lens 56 can bea negative or diverging lens. A given beam of light from the waveguide54, after passing through the inner lens 56, can appear to emanate froma particular point beyond the inner lens 56 and/or the optical module 50(e.g., from the external environment).

The outer lens 52 can also apply optical effects to light transmittedfrom an external environment and to the user. It will be recognizedthat, where the light from the waveguide 54 is superimposed on a view ofan external environment, the inner lens 56 can apply an effect to bothlight from the waveguide 54 and the light from the external environment.While the effect of the inner lens 56 on the light from the waveguide 54can be desirable, it can also be desirable to deliver light from theexternal environment with no net optical effect or with a differentoptical effect than would be provided by the inner lens 56 alone. Assuch, the outer lens 52 can apply an optical effect that negates,offsets, complements, or otherwise alters the effect of the inner lens56 on incoming light from the external environment. For example, theouter lens 52 can be a positive or converging lens. A given beam oflight from the external environment can pass through the outer lens 52and receive a first optical effect. The same beam of light can furtherpass through the waveguide 54 and the inner lens 56 to arrive at the eyeof the user with the intended optical effect.

It will be understood that the components of the optical module 50 canprovide vision correction to incoming light as appropriate for a givenuser, for example, with the outer lens 52 and/or the inner lens 56. Suchcorrection can be spherical, aspheric, atoric, cylindrical, singlevision, multifocal, progressive, and/or adjustable. It will beunderstood that the components of the optical module 50 can includeother optical components as required to produce a desired opticaleffect. For example, the outer lens 52, the waveguide 54, the inner lens56, and/or another optical component can include one or more diffusers,filters, polarizers, prisms, beam splitters, diffraction gratings,mirrors, and/or windows. Such components can be positioned at anylocation adjacent to, within, or outside of the other components of theoptical module 50.

The inner lens 56 and/or the outer lens 52 can be coupled (e.g., bonded)to each other and/or the frame 20. The waveguide 54 can be coupled(e.g., bonded) to the inner lens 56, the outer lens 52, and/or the frame20. Such couplings and/or bonds can include any secure mechanism,including but not limited to adhesive, welds, interference fits,fasteners, and/or combinations thereof. Such a bond can be positioned onan inner (i.e., user side) surface, an outer (i.e., world side) surface,and/or a radial surface (i.e., connecting the inner surface and outersurface) of the inner lens 56, the outer lens 52, and/or the waveguide54.

As further shown in FIG. 3, at least some components (e.g., displayelement 80) of the optical module 50 can be positioned within the cavity42 of the corresponding arm 40. The alignment of the display element 80within the cavity 42 can determine the direction of the beam of light 88that is projected from the display element 80 and onto the waveguide 54.Accordingly, the display element 80 can be aligned within the cavity 42to provide the desired visual output on the waveguide 54.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a display element can be provided withadjustment mechanisms for controlling an orientation of the displayelement within the head mountable device, thereby controlling thedirection of a beam of projected light output by the display element.

As shown in FIG. 4, the display element 80 is coupled to the arm 40 ofthe head mountable device in a manner that supports the position of thedisplay element 80 and allows for adjustable orientations thereof. Whilethe display element 80 is shown with respect to the arm 40, it will beunderstood that the display element 80 can be adjustably coupled to anyportion of a head mountable device, including a frame or other supportstructure. Additionally or alternatively, the display element 80 can becoupled to the arm 40 by an intervening structure, such as a carriage,chassis, or tray that is insertable into a cavity of the arm 40. Assuch, reference to an ability to adjust the display element 80 will beunderstood to be with respect to any structure to which the displayelement 80 is or can be coupled.

The display element 80 can be coupled to the arm 40 by a joint 122 thatprovides rotational movement of the display element 80. For example, thejoint 122 can be or include a ball joint that allows the display element80 to rotate with one or more (e.g., at least two) degrees of freedomwhile supporting at least a portion of the display element 80 in a givenposition. The joint 122 can engage the display element 80 with a supportstructure 120 that can optionally be provided to enhance engagementbetween the joint 122 and the display element 80.

The display element 80 can be engaged by one or more ramp members 130.The ramp members 130 can move relative to the arm 40 to urge a portionof the display element 80 and adjust its orientation. For example, eachof the ramp members 130 can slide (e.g., linearly) along a track 132. Bymoving the ramp members 130, a different portion thereof may contact thedisplay element 80, thereby urging it to a particular orientation, asdiscussed further herein. Each of the ramp members 130 can be moved orotherwise operated independently or in unison. Such operation can bemanually, by an external device, and/or by a corresponding actuator 98that is integrated into the head-mountable device (e.g., within thecavity of the arm 40).

Movement of each of the ramp members 130 can urge the display element 80to rotate about a different axis. For example, the axes of rotation canbe through the same portion of the display element 80. By furtherexample, the axes of rotation can be orthogonal to each other. At leastone of the axes of rotation can optionally be through the joint 122.

The display element 80 can be biased against the one or more rampmembers 130 by one or more spring elements 110. Each of the springelements 110 can couple the display element 80 to the arm 40 and/oranother structure. While the spring elements 110 of FIG. 4 are shownbetween the display element 80 in the arm 40, it will be understood thatthe spring elements 110 can be provided at any position and have anytype of bias to urge the display element 80 as desired. For example, thespring elements 110 can include a compression spring, an extensionspring, a torsion spring, a constant force spring, and the like. Whileone spring element 110 is shown for each ramp member 130, it will beunderstood that any number of spring elements 110 can be provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the movement of a ramp member 130 can beused to adjust the orientation of the display element 80. For example,as shown in FIG. 5, while the ramp member 130 is in a first position, afirst portion of the ramp member 130 can abut an engagement portion 82of the display element 80. The spring element 110 can facilitate suchcontact by biasing (e.g., in tension in FIG. 5) the display element 80toward the ramp member 130 such that the engagement portion 82 abuts thefirst portion of the ramp member 130. In such a configuration, thedisplay element 80 can project a beam of light 88 in a first directiontoward a waveguide.

Detection of the direction of the light can be performed based on theappearance of the light relative to a target element, as discussedherein. For example, an operator, an external device, and/or theprocessor of the head-mountable device can detect (e.g., via the sensor)whether and by what margin the light 88 is offset from a target elementthat indicates optimal alignment of the display element 80 relative tothe waveguide. Based on this detection, a proposed adjustment can bedetermined to achieve a desired alignment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ramp member 130 can be moved to a secondposition. While the ramp member 130 is and the second position, a secondportion of the ramp member 130 can abut the engagement portion 82 of thedisplay element 80. The spring element 110 can continue to facilitatesuch contact by continuing to bias the display element 80 toward theramp member 130 such that the engagement portion 82 abuts the secondportion of the ramp member 130. In such a configuration, the displayelement 80 can project the beam of light 88 and a second directiontowards the waveguide.

In some embodiments, the display element 80 can be fixed in a givenposition and/or orientation upon achieving a desired alignment. Forexample, the display element 80 can be fixedly coupled (e.g., bonded) tothe arm 40 or another component of the head-mountable device. Such acoupling and/or bond can include any secure mechanism, including but notlimited to adhesive, welds, interference fits, fasteners, and/orcombinations thereof. Such a coupling and/or bond can be persistent,such that the display element 80 is fixed in a given position and/ororientation during further assembly, operation, and usage of thehead-mountable device.

Additionally or alternatively, the display element 80 can be maintainedin a given position and/or orientation without being fixedly coupled(e.g., bonded) to the arm 40 or another component of the head-mountabledevice. For example, the above-referenced operations (detections and/oradjustments) can be performed repeatedly and/or periodically. By furtherexample, detections and/or adjustments can performed by operation of theprocessor, the sensor, and/or the actuator. The display element 80 maybe forced out of alignment with the waveguide during use (e.g., viadeformation of components). In response, the components of thehead-mountable device can perform detections and/or adjustments asneeded to restore and maintain alignment. Such operations can beperformed based on a schedule, a detected condition, and/or auser-initiated command.

Referring now to FIG. 7, another adjustment mechanism is illustrated forcontrolling an orientation of a display element within the headmountable device, thereby controlling the direction of a beam ofprojected light output by the display element.

As shown in FIG. 7, the display element 80 can be coupled to the arm 40or another structure by a joint 222 that provides rotational movement ofthe display element 80. For example, the joint 222 can be or include aball joint that allows the display element 80 to rotate with one or more(e.g., at least two) degrees of freedom while supporting at least aportion of the display element 80 in a given position. The joint 222 canengage the display element 80 with a support structure 220 that canoptionally be provided to enhance engagement between the joint 222 andthe display element 80.

The display element 80 can be engaged by one or more adjustment members234 each having one or more ramp members 230. The adjustment members 234can rotate relative to the arm 40 to urge a portion of the displayelement 80 and adjust its orientation. For example, each of the rampmembers 230 can extend through and slide within a rotary track 232 thatforms an arc. By rotating the adjustment members 234, different portionsof the corresponding ramp members 230 may contact the display element 80(e.g., at the engagement portions 82), thereby urging it to a particularorientation, as discussed further herein. Each of the adjustment members234 can be rotated or otherwise operated independently or in unison.Such operation can be manually, by an external device, and/or by acorresponding actuator that is integrated into the head-mountable device(e.g., within the cavity of the arm 40).

Movement of each of the adjustment members 234 can urge the displayelement 80 to rotate about a different axis. For example, the axes ofrotation can be through the same portion of the display element 80. Byfurther example, the axes of rotation can be orthogonal to each other.At least one of the axes of rotation can optionally be through the joint222. The axes of rotation of the display element 80 need not be coaxialor otherwise related to the axes about which the adjustment members 234rotate.

The display element 80 can be biased against the one or more rampmembers 230 by one or more spring elements 210. Each of the springelements 210 can couple the display element 80 to the arm 40 and/oranother structure. While the spring elements 210 of FIG. 7 are shownbetween the display element 80 in the arm 40, it will be understood thatthe spring elements 210 can be provided at any position and have anytype of bias to urge the display element 80 as desired. For example, thespring elements 210 can include a compression spring, an extensionspring, a torsion spring, a constant force spring, and the like. Whileone spring element 210 is shown for each adjustment member 234, it willbe understood that any number of spring elements 210 can be provided.

The operations described above with respect to ramp members 130 can beapplied to achieve a desired alignment by operation of the adjustmentmembers 234.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide ahead-mountable device that provides adjustment mechanisms to achieveoptimal alignment of optical components during and/or after assemblythereof within the head-mountable device. The alignment mechanisms canbe integrated into the head-mountable device itself. A light projectingdisplay element can be adjustable based on movement of ramp memberswithin the head-mountable device (e.g., within an arm) to adjust anorientation of the light projecting display element relative to thewaveguide onto which it projects light. Alignment can be verified basedon the optical output of the display element. The adjustment mechanismscan adjust the display element during initial assembly and/or beoperated by actuators that actively adjust the alignment as needed overtime.

Various examples of aspects of the disclosure are described below asclauses for convenience. These are provided as examples, and do notlimit the subject technology.

Clause A: a head-mountable device comprising: a frame; an arm extendingfrom the frame; a waveguide positioned within the frame; a displayelement positioned within and rotatably coupled to the arm andconfigured to project light to the waveguide; and a ramp element withinthe arm and being configured to move against an engagement portion ofthe display element such that an orientation of the display elementrelative to the waveguide is adjusted and the light projected from thedisplay element is directed to a target region of the waveguide.

Clause B: a head-mountable device comprising: a frame; an arm extendingfrom the frame; a waveguide positioned within the frame; a targetelement within the frame; a display element positioned within andcoupled to the arm and configured to project light to the waveguide andthe target element; a sensor configured to detect a location of thelight with respect to the target element; and an actuator within the armand configured to adjust an orientation of the display element relativeto the waveguide based on the sensor and until the light projected fromthe display element is directed to the target element.

Clause C: a method comprising: projecting light from a display elementwithin an arm of a head-mountable device and onto a waveguide within aframe of the head-mountable device; detect a location of the light withrespect to a target element within the frame; and adjusting the displayelement with a ramp element configured to move within the arm and adjustan orientation of the display element relative to the waveguide suchthat the light projected from the display element is directed to thetarget element.

One or more of the above clauses can include one or more of the featuresdescribed below. It is noted that any of the following clauses may becombined in any combination with each other, and placed into arespective independent clause, e.g., Clause A, B, or C.

Clause 1: the ramp element is configured to move along a track to shiftthe engagement portion of the display element and adjust the orientationof the display element.

Clause 2: the ramp element is a component of an adjustment member thatis configured to rotate relative to the display element to shift theengagement portion of the display element and adjust the orientation ofthe display element.

Clause 3: a spring element that biases the engagement portion of thedisplay element against the ramp element.

Clause 4: the display element is rotatably coupled to the arm with ajoint providing at least two degrees of freedom.

Clause 5: the ramp element is a first ramp element configured to movesuch that the display element rotates about a first axis; and thehead-mountable device further comprises a second ramp element configuredto move such that the display element rotates about a second axis.

Clause 6: a first lens; and a second lens, wherein the waveguide ispositioned between the first lens and the second lens.

Clause 7: a target element within the frame.

Clause 8: a sensor configured to detect a location of the light withrespect to the target element.

Clause 9: an actuator within the arm and configured to move the rampelement until the light projected from the display element is directedto the target element.

Clause 10: a processor operatively connected to the display element, thesensor, and the actuator.

Clause 11: a ramp element within the arm, wherein the actuator isconfigured to move the ramp element against an engagement portion of thedisplay element such that the orientation of the display elementrelative to the waveguide is adjusted and the light projected from thedisplay element is directed to the target element.

Clause 12: the actuator is a first actuator configured to rotate thedisplay element about a first axis; and the head-mountable devicefurther comprises a second actuator configured to rotate the displayelement about a second axis.

Clause 13: fixedly coupling the display element to the arm such that theorientation of the display element with respect to the arm is secured.

Clause 14: adjusting the display element comprises operating an actuatorof the head-mountable device to rotate the display element by moving theramp element.

Clause 15: determining the location of the light with respect to thetarget element comprises operating a sensor of the head-mountable deviceto visually identify the light and the target element.

As described above, one aspect of the present technology may include thegathering and use of data available from various sources. The presentdisclosure contemplates that in some instances, this gathered data mayinclude personal information data that uniquely identifies or can beused to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal informationdata can include demographic data, location-based data, telephonenumbers, email addresses, twitter ID's, home addresses, data or recordsrelating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signsmeasurements, medication information, exercise information), date ofbirth, or any other identifying or personal information.

The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personalinformation data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefitof users. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provideinsights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positivefeedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.

The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible forthe collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use ofsuch personal information data will comply with well-established privacypolicies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities shouldimplement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that aregenerally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmentalrequirements for maintaining personal information data private andsecure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users, and shouldbe updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personalinformation from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonableuses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimateuses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving theinformed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities shouldconsider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access tosuch personal information data and ensuring that others with access tothe personal information data adhere to their privacy policies andprocedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluationby third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacypolicies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should beadapted for the particular types of personal information data beingcollected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards,including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US,collection of or access to certain health data may be governed byfederal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability andAccountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries maybe subject to other regulations and policies and should be handledaccordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained fordifferent personal data types in each country.

Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplatesembodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to,personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplatesthat hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent orblock access to such personal information data. For example, in the caseof advertisement delivery services, the present technology can beconfigured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” ofparticipation in the collection of personal information data duringregistration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example,users can select not to provide mood-associated data for targetedcontent delivery services. In yet another example, users can select tolimit the length of time mood-associated data is maintained or entirelyprohibit the development of a baseline mood profile. In addition toproviding “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosurecontemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use ofpersonal information. For instance, a user may be notified upondownloading an app that their personal information data will be accessedand then reminded again just before personal information data isaccessed by the app.

Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personalinformation data should be managed and handled in a way to minimizerisks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can beminimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once itis no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including incertain health related applications, data de-identification can be usedto protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, whenappropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth,etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g.,collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level),controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users),and/or other methods.

Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use ofpersonal information data to implement one or more various disclosedembodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the variousembodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing suchpersonal information data. That is, the various embodiments of thepresent technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all ora portion of such personal information data. For example, content can beselected and delivered to users by inferring preferences based onnon-personal information data or a bare minimum amount of personalinformation, such as the content being requested by the deviceassociated with a user, other non-personal information available to thecontent delivery services, or publicly available information.

A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean oneand only one unless specifically so stated, but rather one or more. Forexample, “a” module may refer to one or more modules. An elementproceeded by “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said” does not, without furtherconstraints, preclude the existence of additional same elements.

Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and donot limit the invention. The word exemplary is used to mean serving asan example or illustration. To the extent that the term include, have,or the like is used, such term is intended to be inclusive in a mannersimilar to the term comprise as comprise is interpreted when employed asa transitional word in a claim. Relational terms such as first andsecond and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action fromanother without necessarily requiring or implying any actual suchrelationship or order between such entities or actions.

Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, oneor more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, anotherimplementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, anembodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one ormore embodiments, a configuration, the configuration, anotherconfiguration, some configurations, one or more configurations, thesubject technology, the disclosure, the present disclosure, othervariations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that adisclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subjecttechnology or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of thesubject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply toall configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relatingto such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as anaspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa,and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases.

A phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms“and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as awhole, rather than each member of the list. The phrase “at least one of”does not require selection of at least one item; rather, the phraseallows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items,and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least oneof each of the items. By way of example, each of the phrases “at leastone of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” refers to only A,only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least oneof each of A, B, and C.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps,operations, or processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplaryapproaches. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is understood thatthe specific order or hierarchy of steps, operations, or processes maybe performed in different order. Some of the steps, operations, orprocesses may be performed simultaneously. The accompanying methodclaims, if any, present elements of the various steps, operations orprocesses in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to thespecific order or hierarchy presented. These may be performed in serial,linearly, in parallel or in different order. It should be understoodthat the described instructions, operations, and systems can generallybe integrated together in a single software/hardware product or packagedinto multiple software/hardware products.

In one aspect, a term coupled or the like may refer to being directlycoupled. In another aspect, a term coupled or the like may refer tobeing indirectly coupled.

Terms such as top, bottom, front, rear, side, horizontal, vertical, andthe like refer to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to theordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, such a term may extendupwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitationalframe of reference.

The disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art topractice the various aspects described herein. In some instances,well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form inorder to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology. Thedisclosure provides various examples of the subject technology, and thesubject technology is not limited to these examples. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the principles described herein may be applied to otheraspects.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the variousaspects described throughout the disclosure that are known or later cometo be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expresslyincorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed bythe claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to bededicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure isexplicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construedunder the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless theelement is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in thecase of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “stepfor”.

The title, background, brief description of the drawings, abstract, anddrawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided asillustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictivedescriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will notbe used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in thedetailed description, it can be seen that the description providesillustrative examples and the various features are grouped together invarious implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.The method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed subject matter requires more features thanare expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect,inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a singledisclosed configuration or operation. The claims are hereby incorporatedinto the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparately claimed subject matter.

The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects describedherein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with thelanguage of the claims and to encompass all legal equivalents.Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subjectmatter that fails to satisfy the requirements of the applicable patentlaw, nor should they be interpreted in such a way.

What is claimed is:
 1. A head-mountable device comprising: a frame; anarm extending from the frame; a waveguide positioned within the frame; adisplay element positioned within and rotatably coupled to the arm andconfigured to project light to the waveguide; and a ramp element withinthe arm and being configured to move against an engagement portion ofthe display element such that an orientation of the display elementrelative to the waveguide is adjusted and the light projected from thedisplay element is directed to a target region of the waveguide.
 2. Thehead-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the ramp element is configuredto move along a track to shift the engagement portion of the displayelement and adjust the orientation of the display element.
 3. Thehead-mountable device of claim 1, wherein the ramp element is acomponent of an adjustment member that is configured to rotate relativeto the display element to shift the engagement portion of the displayelement and adjust the orientation of the display element.
 4. Thehead-mountable device of claim 1, further comprising a spring elementthat biases the engagement portion of the display element against theramp element.
 5. The head-mountable device of claim 1, wherein thedisplay element is rotatably coupled to the arm with a joint providingat least two degrees of freedom.
 6. The head-mountable device of claim1, wherein: the ramp element is a first ramp element configured to movesuch that the display element rotates about a first axis; and thehead-mountable device further comprises a second ramp element configuredto move such that the display element rotates about a second axis. 7.The head-mountable device of claim 1, further comprising: a first lens;and a second lens, wherein the waveguide is positioned between the firstlens and the second lens.
 8. The head-mountable device of claim 1,further comprising a target element within the frame.
 9. Thehead-mountable device of claim 8, further comprising a sensor configuredto detect a location of the light with respect to the target element.10. The head-mountable device of claim 9, further comprising an actuatorwithin the arm and configured to move the ramp element until the lightprojected from the display element is directed to the target element.11. The head-mountable device of claim 10, further comprising aprocessor operatively connected to the display element, the sensor, andthe actuator.
 12. A head-mountable device comprising: a frame; an armextending from the frame; a waveguide positioned within the frame; atarget element within the frame; a display element positioned within andcoupled to the arm and configured to project light to the waveguide andthe target element; a sensor configured to detect a location of thelight with respect to the target element; and an actuator within the armand configured to adjust an orientation of the display element relativeto the waveguide based on the sensor and until the light projected fromthe display element is directed to the target element.
 13. Thehead-mountable device of claim 12, further comprising a ramp elementwithin the arm, wherein the actuator is configured to move the rampelement against an engagement portion of the display element such thatthe orientation of the display element relative to the waveguide isadjusted and the light projected from the display element is directed tothe target element.
 14. The head-mountable device of claim 12, wherein:the actuator is a first actuator configured to rotate the displayelement about a first axis; and the head-mountable device furthercomprises a second actuator configured to rotate the display elementabout a second axis.
 15. The head-mountable device of claim 12, furthercomprising: a first lens; and a second lens, wherein the waveguide ispositioned between the first lens and the second lens.
 16. Thehead-mountable device of claim 12, further comprising a processoroperatively connected to the display element, the sensor, and theactuator.
 17. A method comprising: projecting light from a displayelement within an arm of a head-mountable device and onto a waveguidewithin a frame of the head-mountable device; detect a location of thelight with respect to a target element within the frame; and adjustingthe display element with a ramp element configured to move within thearm and adjust an orientation of the display element relative to thewaveguide such that the light projected from the display element isdirected to the target element.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising fixedly coupling the display element to the arm such that theorientation of the display element with respect to the arm is secured.19. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the display elementcomprises operating an actuator of the head-mountable device to rotatethe display element by moving the ramp element.
 20. The method of claim17, wherein determining the location of the light with respect to thetarget element comprises operating a sensor of the head-mountable deviceto visually identify the light and the target element.